Battle of Bauge

The Battle of Bauge (22 March 1421) was a battle of the Hundred Years' War that was fought between a large Franco-Scottish army under the Earl of Buchan and the Constable of France Gilbert Motier de La Fayette and a smaller English force under the Duke of Clarence. The Franco-Scottish army destroyed the smaller English force, and Clarence was slain.

The battle occurred during a chevauchee raid led by the Duke of Clarence, who was left in command of the English army in France after King Henry V of England returned to England. At Bauge, Clarence attempted to use his 1,500 troops to surprise and destroy a Franco-Scottish army, underestimating its size; it had a strength of 5,000 troops. He ignored the advice of the Duke of Exeter and assaulted the Franco-Scottish army across a bridge. The Scottish archers held the English back long enough for the French and Scottish troops to rally, and Clarence was struck in the head with a mace by a Scottish knight and killed. The English army was destroyed, with all of the troops engaged either being killed or captured. However, the French and Scots missed a chance to destroy the English army when they refused to give pursuit, allowing for the English to fight another day.